Hello Mom's! Happy Tuesday :)
I am flying with two babies (will be 8 months, and 20 months when we fly in May). My husband is coming too (thank god :)) So we will each have a baby to care for. I bought both babies a seat, so we could be more comfortable, have more room for changings, and we didnt have to sit next to a poor stranger while babies are crying, pooping, and all the rest of it.
Any tips for flying with a 20 month old? I am not worried about the 8 month old, he is very content, quiet baby, happy all the time. The 20 month old is at that age where she wants to explore. Never done this before, so any tips would be helpful!!!
If the airline doesn't have TV screens, bring a DVD player and earphones with a bunch of videos. And walk around as often as you can. Lots of fruit for snacks, pretzels and water or some watered down juice. Make sure she stretches often. Play stretching games while standing on her seat.
Also, check in early and see if you can get a first or last row.
You bought a seat.. put the car seat on the plane.. it will be just like being in a car.. it will keep her pinned in (in a good way) ..
Books are good.
Coloring books
anything snacks that can be transfered from bag to bag or continer to continer.
Get a tray for the car seat, from experience the tray on the plane does not go down with the car seat there.
some kind of interactive game.. We have the alpabit apple. My daughter will sit and play with that for a while.
Get a new toy, something that they have not seen yet or seen in a while. They will capitave thier attn. longer.
Relax. there are two type of people in this world.. Parents and non.. Most parents are going to be paitent .. some non will be as well.. :)
Most planes have 3 seats to a row ( well the ones we fly on do anyway) We are flying Saturday with a 4.5 year old and 20 month old.. we got one seat.. the 20 month old will be on my lap.. so we can all sit in the same row.
Paci, bottles etc.. for take off and landing. or have them eat.. something chewie.. so they are chewing and swallowing.
security- you are allowed to bring enough bottles /milk for the trip and then some. I breast fed last year when we flew and had no issues brining liquid or frozen breast milk.
extra outfits for all incase of tummy issues.
Relax and have fun!
I would suggest taking her car seat. It will feel familiar and she will know she has to stay put.
Bring chewy things for takeoff and landing for her ears. I don't remember what a 20 month old can eat? We did Rolos and Starburst for my 2 yr old.
Bring new books and little unusual toys that you bring out for the first time on the plane, when necessary. You can find these inexpensively at a place like Target.
Bring plenty of snacks and drinks to stay hydrated and keep busy. Some new and fun snacks and some good old standbys. I threw my healthy eating rules out the window for plane trips. I just wanted a happy baby for those few hours in the air.
I would also suggest a portable dvd player with some favorite movies and new movies.
Have fun and take tons of pictures!
Oh, you're really flying with a baby and a toddler. Not infants. Wow, I thought 2 infants alone. Well, that might been easier than the toddler. Last I checked infants are under 3 months.
Bring snacks, bottle for both, for sucking during take off and landing, or gum or sippy cup for toddler, nurse the baby to alleviate ear pressure, bring touchy-feely books for the toddler, crayons and coloring books, whatever keeps toddler busy, busy, busy.
Whatever you do , make sure you bring a change of clothes for each of you in an individual ziploc bag so its easy to find in your bag . If you are calm they will be too. At some point there will be crying but don't worry about it . Pretend no one else is there ! Have a great trip :)
Lots of great ideas here. I find the portable DVD player indispensible on flights with my kids. Another idea is to go to a dollar store and buy some cheap surprises for the toddler - sticker books, whatever interests here. Then when she gets bored, pull out a suprise gift. Let her play with it as long as possible before you get out another surprise or a snack.
Also, be prepared to take a lot of walks up and down the aisle whenever the seatbelt light is off. People would much rather see a happy toddler walking the aisle than hearing a fussy toddler being forced to stay in her seat :)
Oh, and I find that lollipops are the perfect way to get toddlers and young kids to pop their ears during takeoff and landing. Messy perhaps, but effective! For the infant, try to feed during takeoff and landing. Remember that pacifiers get babies to suck, but not necessarily swallow, and to pop their ears, the need to swallow. So bottle/nurse at those times, don't just offer a paci.
